Alpeed john nicholson



Patented Mar. .7, I899. A. J. NICHOLSON.

CONSTRUCTION OF TENTS.

(Application filed Oct. 7, 1898.}

(No Model.)

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Patented Mar. 7, I899.

I A. J. NICHOLSON.

CONSTRUCTION OF TENTS.

(Application filed Oct. 7, 1898.)

2 Sheets -Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED JOHN NICHOLSON, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

CONSTRUCTION OF TENTS.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,719, dated March 7, 1899.

Application filed October '7, 1898. Serial No. 692,928. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED J OHN NICHOL- SON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of 17 Exchange street, Oheetham, Manchester, England, have invented a new or Improved Construction of Tent, of which the following isa specification.

The objects of my invention are to combine in a tent the greatest possible amount of internal space with the least amount of material, together with lightness, ease of transport, strength and rapidity of construction, and also to aiford great resistance to storms.

In accordance with my invention I employ a circular wooden or metal block designed to form or constitute the apex of the tent. In such block I form a series of holes radiating from one common center, and into such holes I fit the upper ends of a corresponding number of curved ribs,which extend to the ground and, in conjunction with the said block, constitute the framework of the tent. Previously to being fitted to the block said ribs pass through rings or loops sewed onto the interior surface of the tent-covering, and for facility of manipulation and transport such ribs are in two or more sections connected together by socket-joints.

The material of which the cover is formed may be that commonly used, but is by preference made of what is known as rain-repellent Khaki drill cut out in sections and fitted together to suit the shape of tent.

For use in tropical countries I provide the tent with a supplementary'cover or fly, which is supported by a pillar rising from the block aforesaid and is held in a distended condition above the tent by guy-ropes and pegs or by guy-ropes, struts, and pegs, as hereinafter described.

The tent is provided with a door of special construction adapted to close the doorway and intercept the wind or rain in Whatever direction it may be blowing.

On Sheet 1 of the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show exterior perspective views of a portable tent constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 1 showing the manner in which the door or entrance of the tent is closed and Fig. 2 showing the manner in which the door is opened. On Sheet 2 Fig. 3 shows a transverse section of the same tent, illustrating the internal fittings. Fig. 4 illustrates a part exterior and part sectional elevation, and Fig. 5 an inverted plan of the block to which the several ribs of the tent are fitted in erecting the tent. Fig. 6 illustrates the pillar for supporting the fly. Fig. 7 illustrates the ends of the sectional parts of the as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. Each of such holes I fit or line with a thin metal tube 3 and fix such tube by means of a small screw 4 and longitudinal ridges 5, the latter serving to prevent the tube twisting. Into each of the metal-lined holes 2 I fit the end of one-half, part, or section of a hickory, bamboo, or other light rib 6, such'end being protected by a metal ferrule 7, (similar to that shown in Fig.

7,) having a slight exterior taper corresponding to a slight interior taper of holes 2. After each of said holes has been fitted with a section of the ribs 6 the lower or farther sections of the ribs are added by means of metal sockets 8, adapted to receive the ferrule-protected ends of the other or upper sections, as shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 7.

Previously to fixing the ribs 6 into the block 1 they are threaded through a series of loops or rings 9, (some five or six for each rib,) sewed or otherwise attached to the tent-covering 10. The apex of the tent-covering is also previ ously clamped onto the block 1 by means of a cap 11 and screws 12. With the ribs fixed in position under the covering and in the block 1 and arranged in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the said covering and ribs, through the medium of loops or rings 18, connected to rings 9 and passing through eyelet-holes in the covering, are then secured by guy-ropes 14 and cords 15, as illustrated, some of the cords 15 being attached to the lower edge through brass eyelet-holes and to pegs in the ground and others passing around and tied to the exposed ends of the ribs.

To produce the doorway and door,I form one of the sections of the'covering with a triangular or approximately triangular opening, and to each inclined edge of such opening I apply a flap or part 16-, which is also of a triangular or approximately triangular shape and slightly larger than the opening. To close the tent from the inside, one of such flaps is caused to fit over the opening and is secured by cord 17 to one of the ribs 6 and by cord 18 to the ring 13, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. It is also secured by tape 19 and cords 20. The other flap is then fitted over the door-opening and in turn secured by corresponding cords and tape, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and

thus the tent-door is efiectually closed. This peculiar construction and fixing of the door is an important feature of my invention in that by reversing the order in which the flaps are secured or by alternately fixing the right flap or the left flap innermost provision is made for intercepting the wind in whatever direction it is blowing, for the time being from left to right. To open the doorway, the tapes 19 and cords 17 18 20 are unfastened and the cords 18 used for holding back each flap. The cords 18 are passed around the first rib within the tent, brought back, and then fastened onto the outside ring 13 of the same rib, thus looping back the doorway-flaps in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

The curtain 21 is secured to the inner face of the tent-covering and overlaps below the doorway, with one end secured to one flap and the other end secured to the other flap, so that when the doorway'is made open the said ends of the curtain fold back with the flaps, as shown in Fig. 2, and leave the entrance of the tent unobstructed.

To prevent the water dripping from the apex of the doorway, I providea small eave or drip-preventer 22, designed to divert the water from the doorway, especially when the doorway is opened.

To allow of ventilation, I provide the ventilators 23, and in one or more of the sections of the tent-covering I provide openings 24, constituting windows, as well as ventilatingorifices, and to close or cover such windows I provide an apron or blind, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) fixed to the tent-covering above the windows and designed to roll and unroll and be held by tapes or loops in covering or uncovering the windows. 7

To permit of a supplementary cover or fly 25 being used with the improved tent in tropical countries, I provide a block 1*, with a central opening, and a pillar or stand 26, provided with shank' 27, designed to take the place of cap 11, and said shank slightly tapered to fit the slightly-tapered opening in manifold.

the block 1*, as shown in Fig. 6. The upper end of such pillar is fitted with a cap 28, and by the aid of the said cap and screws 29 the fly 25 is secured centrally to the pillar. At points along the outer edge of the fly I secure guy-ropes 30 and by means of such ropes and pegs in the ground secure the fly in a distended condition. Forshortening the guyropes or allowing the pegs to lie nearer the tent I may pass the ropes over struts 31, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the case of large tents-say over six feet highI provide the device shown in Fig. 8 for supporting the block 1 or 1* during erection of the tent or during the taking down of the tent, which said device consists of a divided pole 32 with a three-pronged extremity and by preference equal in length over all to the height of the block 1 or 1* from the ground, and the said pronged extremity is designed to fit against the under side of block 1 or 1* and support the block during the pitching or striking of the tent. To prevent the block slipping off the prongs, I provide the annular ridge or flange 33. (See Figs. 4, 5, and 6.) The number of holes in the blocks -1 1* vary according to the size of tent or number of ribs.

To provide a light in the tent at night-time, the block 1 or the shank 27 may carry a hook 31 to support a lamp.

By unfastening the cords 15, 20, and 20* the covering may be looped up for increased ventilation.

The lower extremities of the ribs are slightly pointed to enter the ground, if need be; but it is not necessary to point them, as the .sta-

bility of the tent is determined by the guy ropes and pegs.

The advantages of the improved tent are It gives the greatest cubic capacity with the least superficial area of material. In an ordinary bell tent the curve is concave-4i. e., sloping inward-whereas in the dome shape of tent the curve is convex. Hence with the same diameter the tent gives much more head-room. There is no centerpole. In wet weather the guy-ropes do not need altering, as the shrinkage of the covering acts only on the ribs. The tent can be moved bodily without being struck in order to air the space slept on. It is light in weight, quickly pitched and struck, and folds into small compass. It is also more effectual in resisting wind-pressure or storms than any other shape of tent.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the tent-ribs, of a block having a series of radiating holes, tubes secured in the holes and forming a bearing for the rib ends, as set forth.

2. The c'ombination,with the tent-ribs, of the block having a series of holes radiating from a common center, tubes having longitudinal extremity fitting within said flange to sup ridges to prevent the tubes turning in the port the block, as set forth. 10 holes, and the screws in the tubes to secure In witness whereof I have hereunto set my the latter in said holes, as set forth. hand in the presence of two witnesses.

The combination, with the tent-ribs, the ALFRED JOHN NICHOLSON. block having radial holes in which the ribs Witnesses: are hung, and an annular flange upon the bot- W'ALTER GUNN,

tom of the block, of the pole having a pron ged ARTHUR GRESTY. 

